Major League Soccer

Stewart gets first MLS goal, but it's Olsen who nets winner as D.C. United edges San Jose 2-1.

By Gary Davidson
SoccerTimes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Saturday, September 13, 2003) -- Striker Earnie Stewart finally recorded his first Major League Soccer goal, but it was midfielder Ben Olsen's late tally that gave D.C. United a 2-1 decision over the San Jose Earthquakes tonight before 15,502 at RFK Stadium.

Olsen's winner came less than a minute after Earthqaukes reserve forward Jamil Walker had tied the match.

United was 1-7-2 in its last 10 matches against San Jose and had dropped two earlier meetings this season with the Earthquakes who lead the Western Conference. At 12-5-7, San Jose's 43 points are equal to the East's leader, the Chicago Fire which has the identical record. The Earthquakes still have the league's best road record at 6-2-4.

"Funny game," San Jose coach Frank Yallop said. "I thought both teams had good chances at the goal."

United (9-8-6, 33) pulled to within a point of the MetroStars (9-7-7) who lost 2-1 at home to the New England Revolution.

"I'm extremely proud tonight of the way we played," United coach Ray Hudson said. "I don't want to say we're going to win (the MLS Cup), but (San Jose's) the best team in Major League Soccer. I think we're the best kept secret in the MLS."

With his club leading 1-0 in the 80th minute, United midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla was booked for a late tackle on the left touchline. San Jose midfielder Richard Mulrooney curled the resulting free kick just inside the top center of the penalty area where striker Manny Lagos flicked a header to the far post. Close to being offside, Walker was in position to nail a three-yard first-touch volley inside the right post for the 1-1 tie.

Almost directly off the kickoff, Olsen collected the ball on the left flank, cut into the middle and lashed a low 25-yarder that skipped on the wet turf and slipped through goalkeeper Pat Onstad's arms and inside the near left post for the 2-1 lead.

"Overall, I thought it was a good performance," said Olsen who has three goals this season. "That one letdown could have cost us the game, but we battled back and got an early one right after they scored. We're hoping to turn the corner and go on a good stretch before we try to make the playoffs."

D.C. is a perfect 12-0 all-time in games where Olsen scores. "It's interesting. I don't know if that's a good or bad stat," he said. "I know it's not very many goals. That's what it tells me, that I've got to score more."

Yallop was not critical of Onstad's failure to handle Olsen's shot. "Normally, it was easy for Pat to smother that," the coach said. "He tried to gather it. Maybe he should have parried it."

In the closing moments, San Jose came up empty on a prime opportunity to equalize. Defender Chris Roner, a late substitute, sent a cross from the right flank bouncing through the box. Walker fanned on a possible point-blank shot with the ball going to defender Todd Dunivant who dribbled a weak shot to United keeper Nick Rimando.

United attacked ferociously to start the game with Quintanilla firing a shot just high and Onstad denying United forward Ronald Cerritos with a point-blank save after Quintanilla set up Stewart for a feed into the middle.

In the ninth minute, United playmaker Marco Etcheverry bent a free kick from the left for defender Ryan Nelsen to head from close range. Onstad kicked the descending shot away, then had to be quick to stop the ball as his clearance caromed off a teammate's back at goal.

Etcheverry collected the subsequent long clearance in his own end and led Cerritos into the left corner with a long ball. Cerritos crossed to the front of the goal and Stewart sped in for a flashing header into the right corner past Onstad who had no chance to react as United took a 1-0 lead.

Stewart had finally found net in his 15th MLS game. "That's obviously great," Stewart said. "Playing with Ronald has been very good to me and it paid off tonight. It's a pretty good tandem and we feel comfortable together and it's obviously great to score."

Referee: Kevin Stott. Referee's assistants: Richard Eddy; Thomas Supple. Attendance: 15,502 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Time of game: 1:53. Weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees.

Gary Davidson is a SoccerTimes managing editor and can be e-mailed at editor@soccertimes.com.